Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living WordAction - The Nazarene Publishing House (The Foundry Publishing House) in Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Sunday, 20 August 2017 - "The Simple Joy of Being Clean" by Douglas E. McClure - Psalm 24:1-10

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living WordAction - The Nazarene Publishing House (The Foundry Publishing House) in Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Sunday, 20 August 2017 - "The Simple Joy of Being Clean" by Douglas E. McClure - Psalm 24:1-10
Psalm 24:1 (0) By David. A psalm:

(1) The earth is Adonai’s, with all that is in it,

the world and those who live there;

2 for he set its foundations on the seas

and established it on the rivers.

3 Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai?

Who can stand in his holy place?

4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts,

who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives

or swear oaths just to deceive.

5 They will receive a blessing from Adonai

and justice from God, who saves them.

6 Such is the character of those who seek him,

of Ya‘akov, who seeks your face. (Selah)

7 Lift up your heads, you gates!

Lift them up, everlasting doors,

so that the glorious king can enter!

8 Who is he, this glorious king?

Adonai, strong and mighty,

Adonai, mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, you gates!

Lift them up, everlasting doors,

so that the glorious king can enter!

10 Who is he, this glorious king?

Adonai-Tzva’ot —

he is the glorious king. (Selah)

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One of the best times in the day has to be when you get the opportunity to get clean! Whether you are a bath or shower person, morning or evening, there is nothing close to the feeling of washing off what has come before and being clean to face a new challenge.
The Jewish people knew this experience. Part of their worship experience included ritual cleansing. They physically and ceremonially cleansed themselves before presenting themselves at the Temple. In Matthew 27, Pilate washed his hands, seeking to absolve his responsibility for the condemnation of Jesus. Even at the end of times, Revelation 7 speaks of the ones who come through as being those “washed in the blood of the Lamb.”
Regardless of the form or function, cleansing the old and preparing for the new is part of who we are. Psalm 24 reminds us that if we want to “stand in His holy place” we must come clean. Cleansed of what we used to be and ready to become what God has for us. We must come before God without carrying allegiances to other things, but our hearts and our heads completely fixed on God.

Hymn for Today:

"Is Thy Heart Right with God" by Elisha Hoffman

1. Have thy affections been nailed to the cross?

Is thy heart right with God?

Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss?

Is thy heart right with God? 

Refrain:

Is thy heart right with God,

Washed in the crimson flood,

Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,

Right in the sight of God? 

2. Hast thou dominion o’er self and o’er sin?

Is thy heart right with God?

Over all evil without and within?

Is thy heart right with God?

Refrain:

Is thy heart right with God,

Washed in the crimson flood,

Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,

Right in the sight of God? 

3. Is there no more condemnation for sin?

Is thy heart right with God?

Does Jesus rule in the temple within?

Is thy heart right with God?

Refrain:

Is thy heart right with God,

Washed in the crimson flood,

Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,

Right in the sight of God? 

4. Are all thy pow’rs under Jesus’ control?

Is thy heart right with God?

Does He each moment abide in thy soul?

Is thy heart right with God?

Refrain:

Is thy heart right with God,

Washed in the crimson flood,

Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,

Right in the sight of God? 

Thought for Today:
Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!(James 4:8).
Please pray:

For the development of Christian leaders in Zanzibar.

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